About Us – Holy Connection

GET TO KNOW OUR FIRST FAMILY

Rev. Victor D. Cole, M. Div

Victor D. Cole is the current and proud Pastor of Historic Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He is the youngest of five children of the late Calvin F, Cole Sr. and the late Corine Wilkins Cole. He attended the public schools in Duval County and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

Rev. Cole is a compassionate and qualified pastoral care provider and holds the B.S. Degree, from Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte North Carolina and a Master of Divinity Degree from Turner Theological Seminary, Atlanta Georgia. He also holds a level one and level two certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education(CPE) from Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, Florida.

He is a seasoned Pastoral Care Provider beginning the ministry in 1999 and appointed to his first Church in May 2002. He served in two of six conferences of the Eleventh Episcopal District. His seventeen years of Pastoring includes;

St. Mark AME(Clemont, Fl), Mt. Pisgah AME(Lake City, Fl), Mt. Zion AME Southside(Jacksonville, Fl.) and currently serving Historic Mount Zion AME Church in Jacksonville, Fl.,where he provides pastoral care and counseling to a intergenerational and multicultural faith community. Additionally, he served as a Community Hospice & Palliative Care Chaplain for 15 years where he has spent countless hours providing pastoral care and counseling with individuals and families both in home-care settings and long term care facilities.

Beloved, Historic Mount Zion, is a place of true worship and often visited by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The church is engaged in numerous outreach ministries and is considered a “Downtown Church concentrating on Downtown Situations.”

We are a Community church meeting the needs of the marginalized and fostering partnership to improve quality of life for all people. Pastor Cole believes in helping families and individuals engage in life review conversation to discover self worth, reconciliation and ultimately connecting spiritually with Almighty God.

He is also, a member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee on the Board of Trustees at Edward Waters College, Jacksonville Florida.

He is married to Maria Pearson Cole, a retired educator who served as a Speech Pathologist for over 37 years. Currently, she serves as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Temple College Preparatory School. Our first lady holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Disorders from Hampton Institute (University),Hampton Virginia and is an active member of Phi Delta Kappa, Sorority, Inc.

Rev. Cole and Mrs. Cole are natives of Jacksonville, Florida.

Together in marriage and ministry they provide love and compassion to a diverse intergenerational and multicultural faith community.

“Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:5-6

KINGDOM BUILDING;

STRONGER TOGETHER

“KINGDOM BUILDING: STRONGER TOGETHER” HAS BECOME NOT ONLY OUR CHURCH THEME, BUT ALSO OUR DIRECTIVE OF HOW WE REGARD EACH OTHER AS MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S CHURCH.

THE NURTURING BEGINS WITH WARMLY WELCOMING VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS INTO OUR CONGREGATION, AND CONTINUES WITH ONGOING FELLOWSHIP, FRIENDSHIP AND JUST PLAIN FUN AS WE WORK TOGETHER SERVING CHRIST AND BUILDING HIS KINGDOM.

GLOBAL MISSION

We will care for, restore and reclaim humankind, by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and giving water to those that thirst, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

GLOBAL VISION